doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Double Rifles, Paradox Guns & Gauge Rifles @ doublegunshop.com caliber choice??

The new chapuis round body DR is built on a 28 Ga frame. They only offer 6.5x57R, 7x57R, 30-30, 8x57R and 9.3.

9.3 is too much for a 3KG gun. I have it narrowed down to the 7x57R or 30-30 or 8x57R
mostly for whitetails.
what do you say??

Brian:

I'd answer the question based upon where you intend to hunt. If you're mostly going to be hunting in the deep woods, where 100 yards is a long shot, the .30-30 will do it and has the added advantage of having ammo available in almost every shop that sells ammo anywhere.

On the other hand, if you're hunting across open fields and can expect a shot up to 250 yards or so, I'd go for the 7x57R.

If you think you might want to add larger game to the bag using the rifle, I'd opt for the 8x57R, even though the 7x57 has killed more than its share of elk, moose and large bears, to say nothing of their European and African equivalents, in its time. I just like a heavier bullet for larger game.

Out of curiosity, what ammo is Chapuis using to regulate the rifles, and are they regulated with or without scopes?

Thanks.

I've got a UGEX in 9.3X74 and it's not bad for recoil in a light weight rifle. Mine came w/o mounts so I installed EAW pivot mounts and a Leuopld 1.5X5. The regulation didn't change. It's a tack driver for a DR.
The 9.3 is a pretty good caliber out to 250 yds. Another Chapuis 9.3 with iron sights took a moose at 187 yds (lazered)here last season.

Trying to find out what ammo as we speak. I like the 30-30 but it isnt as versatile as the 7x57R or 8x57R.
the 8x57R is tempring but the 7x57R shoots a bit flatter.
I wanted 30-40 but they wont do it. i even offered to buy the reamer. I guess I could go 30-30 and then have it rechambered and then I would have to go through the re-regulation process.

I'd suggest that you talk with Dale Nygaard, a Chapuis importer about the options. I bought mine from him and a more upstanding gentleman you won't find.

http://www.heirloomarmes.com/index.htm

Thats who I am dealing with.

Brian:
If I were to pick a caliber for whitetail hunting in a double gun within your choices I'd go with the 7X57R. You didn't indicate where you would be hunting and the 30/30 is a tried and true deer rifle in short range Eastern conditions but the 7X57 outperforms it in just about every category. IMO The 8X57 is really going to pack a recoil wallop in a rifle of that weight(6lbs9ozs) so I would pass. If you are planning on hunting in the Western States where the ranges are longer a double in 7X57 could also be used for Mule Deer hunting. It wouldn't be the optimal choice of a rifle for Western hunting but it would certainly suffice and,I personally, would get a charge out of bagging a deer with a double rifle.
Let us know how this turns out.
As an aside: The 7X57 is still a formidable caliber and remember that the African hunter "Pondoro" Bell killed hundreds of elephants with a rifle chambered in 7X57.
Jim

Brian, I have a Merkel 141 in 9.3x74 it weighs 6.9 # without the scope. While the recoil is noticeable it is not punishing.I site it in 2in high at 80yds and that put me 3in low at 225yds. The gun and caliber both have performed well on Antelope through Elk sized animals.

7x57R.
I have rifles in all these calibers so this is not just theory.
With kind regards,
Jani

The 7x57R is the strong contender. just wish they would do a 30-40 but they wont.